Golden Agenda of Ethiopia: Oromic as the Primary Working Language
Posted: 24 Jun 2026, 17:18
Golden Agenda of Ethiopia: Oromic as the Primary Working Language
By Fayyis Oromia*
The Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission announced today that it has consolidated eight main agendas to be discussed at the national level. I believe the most important agenda of all is the language issue, which the Commission mentioned as a subtopic. As far as the Oromo are concerned, this matter must be clarified very soon and very clearly.
Dr. Abiy must stop his hitherto meshkormem (shyness) politics and take bold action to promote Oromic as the legitimate primary working language of the federation, replacing Amharic due to the demographic and geographic position of the Oromo. We should no longer deceive ourselves. Two languages can never be used equally in any country; one will always be preferred as the principal working language of the palace, parliament, courts, cabinet, military, and security institutions.
It is long overdue to recognize that Ethiopia in the form of Amarpia (an Amharic-dominated ethnic federation) is slowly but surely declining, while Ethiopia in the sense of Orompia (an Oromic-led ethnic federation) is rising. During this transitional phase, it may be acceptable to defend and maintain the current killil-based federation. However, in the long run, Oromo forces must strive to preserve and strengthen the integration and unity of our greater homeland—Oropia (an Oromic-led geo-federation).
To achieve this, de-killilization and democratization of the country are essential. The key prerequisites for this transformation include:
- Consolidating Oromo power in the Finfinné Palace;
- Promoting Oromic as the primary working language of the federation; and
- Creating a common civic identity (Ethiopiawinet) defined in Oromo terms—that is, a de facto Oropiawinet—by gradually reducing the overemphasis on ethnic identities.
Once these steps are taken, it may be possible to reorganize regional administrations. For example, the Amhara killil could be divided into Wolqayit, Agaw, Gondar, Gojjam, and Shoa; and the Oromia killil into Macca (West Oromia), Tullama (Central Oromia), Wollo (North Oromia), Arsi (Southeast Oromia), Barentu (East Oromia), and Borana (South Oromia). These regions, as parts of Oropia, could then each have their own parliament and government.
Currently, both Amhara elites and Prosperity Party supporters led by Dr. Abiy Ahmed are calling for amendments to the Ethiopian Constitution and the dismantling of the ethnic federation. The Amhara elites understand very well why this serves their interests. As long as the dominance of Amaranet and Amharic continues under the guise of Ethiopiawinet, these constitutional changes will only help consolidate their power and accelerate Amharization.
Oromos and other nations oppose this hidden agenda, which uses Ethiopiawinet as a pretext to reinforce Amharization. If constitutional change and federation restructuring are truly necessary, they must be preceded by replacing Amharic with Oromic as the primary working language across all federal institutions—the Palace, Parliament, Government, Judiciary, Military, Security, and others. Only then can we see whether Amhara elites and their pro-Amaranet allies will continue to advocate for Ethiopia and Ethiopiawinet.
This is why Oromo republicans must focus on capturing power in the Finfinné Palace and enforcing the language shift to Oromic, rather than merely trying to defend the existing constitution and federation.
The million-dollar question remains: Is Dr. Abiy committed to maintaining the dominance of Amharic—thus preserving Ethiopia as Amarpia (an Amharic-dominated ethnic federation)—or is he genuinely dedicated to promoting Oromic as the primary language of the federation, thereby transforming Ethiopia into Orompia?
If he is aligned with the latter, he will be celebrated by the Oromo as a confident Orompianist, or even an Oropianist, implementing the original vision of Dr. Haile Fida. As I have stated many times, Oromo nationalists initially supported an independent Oromia due to limited confidence, later opted for a federal Orompia during a transitional phase of growing influence, and now appear ready—with increasing confidence—to promote the vision of a united Oropia.
If Dr. Abiy is serious about building Orompia or Oropia on the grave of the status quo, Amarpia, then transitioning from an ethnic federation to a geographic federation poses no threat. In fact, a geo-federation of Oropia serves Oromo interests best. Could this be the true meaning behind Dr. Abiy’s statement in Parliament: “We, the Oromo, will never dismantle Ethiopia, because we need it (Itiyophiyan inifeliggalen).”
Lastly, it is worth noting that many Abyssinians are of either Agaw or Oromo origin. King Theodros, who was of Agaw descent, committed severe atrocities in Gondar and beyond. Similarly, King Menelik, who was of Oromo origin, also perpetrated violence—first against the Tulama and then against others. Yet the Agaw people, despite being victims of Theodros, now lionize him and celebrate his legacy. Conversely, many Oromo reject and condemn Menelik and his actions.
Why is there such a contrasting interpretation of similar historical figures? Perhaps it is because Theodros targeted Amharanized Agaws with the backing of non-Amharanized Agaws, while Menelik attacked non-Amharanized Oromos with the support of Amharanized Oromos.
Galatôma!
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2023/05/1 ... -ethiopia/
By Fayyis Oromia*
The Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission announced today that it has consolidated eight main agendas to be discussed at the national level. I believe the most important agenda of all is the language issue, which the Commission mentioned as a subtopic. As far as the Oromo are concerned, this matter must be clarified very soon and very clearly.
Dr. Abiy must stop his hitherto meshkormem (shyness) politics and take bold action to promote Oromic as the legitimate primary working language of the federation, replacing Amharic due to the demographic and geographic position of the Oromo. We should no longer deceive ourselves. Two languages can never be used equally in any country; one will always be preferred as the principal working language of the palace, parliament, courts, cabinet, military, and security institutions.
It is long overdue to recognize that Ethiopia in the form of Amarpia (an Amharic-dominated ethnic federation) is slowly but surely declining, while Ethiopia in the sense of Orompia (an Oromic-led ethnic federation) is rising. During this transitional phase, it may be acceptable to defend and maintain the current killil-based federation. However, in the long run, Oromo forces must strive to preserve and strengthen the integration and unity of our greater homeland—Oropia (an Oromic-led geo-federation).
To achieve this, de-killilization and democratization of the country are essential. The key prerequisites for this transformation include:
- Consolidating Oromo power in the Finfinné Palace;
- Promoting Oromic as the primary working language of the federation; and
- Creating a common civic identity (Ethiopiawinet) defined in Oromo terms—that is, a de facto Oropiawinet—by gradually reducing the overemphasis on ethnic identities.
Once these steps are taken, it may be possible to reorganize regional administrations. For example, the Amhara killil could be divided into Wolqayit, Agaw, Gondar, Gojjam, and Shoa; and the Oromia killil into Macca (West Oromia), Tullama (Central Oromia), Wollo (North Oromia), Arsi (Southeast Oromia), Barentu (East Oromia), and Borana (South Oromia). These regions, as parts of Oropia, could then each have their own parliament and government.
Currently, both Amhara elites and Prosperity Party supporters led by Dr. Abiy Ahmed are calling for amendments to the Ethiopian Constitution and the dismantling of the ethnic federation. The Amhara elites understand very well why this serves their interests. As long as the dominance of Amaranet and Amharic continues under the guise of Ethiopiawinet, these constitutional changes will only help consolidate their power and accelerate Amharization.
Oromos and other nations oppose this hidden agenda, which uses Ethiopiawinet as a pretext to reinforce Amharization. If constitutional change and federation restructuring are truly necessary, they must be preceded by replacing Amharic with Oromic as the primary working language across all federal institutions—the Palace, Parliament, Government, Judiciary, Military, Security, and others. Only then can we see whether Amhara elites and their pro-Amaranet allies will continue to advocate for Ethiopia and Ethiopiawinet.
This is why Oromo republicans must focus on capturing power in the Finfinné Palace and enforcing the language shift to Oromic, rather than merely trying to defend the existing constitution and federation.
The million-dollar question remains: Is Dr. Abiy committed to maintaining the dominance of Amharic—thus preserving Ethiopia as Amarpia (an Amharic-dominated ethnic federation)—or is he genuinely dedicated to promoting Oromic as the primary language of the federation, thereby transforming Ethiopia into Orompia?
If he is aligned with the latter, he will be celebrated by the Oromo as a confident Orompianist, or even an Oropianist, implementing the original vision of Dr. Haile Fida. As I have stated many times, Oromo nationalists initially supported an independent Oromia due to limited confidence, later opted for a federal Orompia during a transitional phase of growing influence, and now appear ready—with increasing confidence—to promote the vision of a united Oropia.
If Dr. Abiy is serious about building Orompia or Oropia on the grave of the status quo, Amarpia, then transitioning from an ethnic federation to a geographic federation poses no threat. In fact, a geo-federation of Oropia serves Oromo interests best. Could this be the true meaning behind Dr. Abiy’s statement in Parliament: “We, the Oromo, will never dismantle Ethiopia, because we need it (Itiyophiyan inifeliggalen).”
Lastly, it is worth noting that many Abyssinians are of either Agaw or Oromo origin. King Theodros, who was of Agaw descent, committed severe atrocities in Gondar and beyond. Similarly, King Menelik, who was of Oromo origin, also perpetrated violence—first against the Tulama and then against others. Yet the Agaw people, despite being victims of Theodros, now lionize him and celebrate his legacy. Conversely, many Oromo reject and condemn Menelik and his actions.
Why is there such a contrasting interpretation of similar historical figures? Perhaps it is because Theodros targeted Amharanized Agaws with the backing of non-Amharanized Agaws, while Menelik attacked non-Amharanized Oromos with the support of Amharanized Oromos.
Galatôma!
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2023/05/1 ... -ethiopia/